DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 56

DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

THE YEAR’S OPERATIONS. A REVIEW. The Secretary of Labour Presented his annual report to Parliament last Wednesday, through the Minister (Mr Seddon). Mr Tregeai\ reviewing the position ot the whole body of labour in the colony, regards it as a highly satisfactory one. There has been inequality of employment in some trades if they were compared with the returns of the preceding three or four years, but on the whole the advance lias been very great, and sustained. An analysis of the imports showed a general purchasing power not only of the necessaries of life, but of. its luxuries, which betokened a very flourishing condition for the average colonist, if compared with his expenditure of a few years ago. This might perhaps presage a danger if the exports had not expanded in still greater degree, and if the amounts deposited in the savings bank had not in ten years risen from <£3,966,849 to <£8,432.958, thus showing that the working classes (from whose ranks most savings bank depositors are drawn) have not forgotten to “provide for a rainy day.”UNEMPLOYED. The proportions of the unemployed have changed in character, comparatively few married men now requiring assistance. For instance, Wellington district sent away 719 single against 211 married. This is a cheering sign, as it shows that there are fewer families in need of help, and that more permanent occupation than formerly available has been obtained by married workers. It is now the floating and unstable members of the community—the single men—who mostly avail themselves of the opportunities offered by Government. Another point of interest is the greater ability shown by the officers of the Department in providing private employment for applicants. In Wellington district those sent to private work numbered 715, against 215 sent to Government works; and in Auckland 729, against 306. This shows that the department is gaining the confidence of private employers to a great degree. At one period during the year, it was for some time difficult to get the number of men required for the co-operative works of railway construction. FACTORIES. In March. 1905, there were 9023 factories in the colony, an increase of 650, and 67,713 factory workers, an increase of 3745. There was difficulty experienced in some factories in the direction of obtaining young people to assist in the work. This is probably caused by the long period of prosperity that has extended over the colony. - People are not as anxious in good times as in bad to take their children from school, and send them either into factories or into domestic service. ARBITRATION. There is reason for congratulation in noting the results which have followed the appointment of Inspectors of Awards. Not only have officials of industrial unions been relieved of the very invidious duty of becoming prominent in action against employers, but, as inspectors grow more acquainted with general conditions and particular awards within their districts, their efficiency is increased, and the benefits accruing to workers are considerably more weighty. During the year they laid informations for 295 cases of breach of award, out of which they won 232. They also settled 312 cases without having recourse to the Arbitration Court, and in these cases were enabled to obtain <£1463 8s 4d of back wages for the workers. This was considerably more than the back wages obtained in the cases brought before the Court—in the latter the fines inflicted were <£529 10s, and back wages <£4so. Of course, it must be remembered that the Court had to adjudicate on the doubtful and difficult cases; where the employer had only beeir guilty of inadvertence the undisputed amount was more easily obtained through the action of the inspector. Nevertheless, the value of the inspectors’ services in saving the time of the Court and preventing needless industrial friction is at once apparent. ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS. Mr J. Mackay, Deputy-Chief Inspector, says:—Large numbers of people arrived during the summer months from England, Canada, and the United States. Most of these succeeded i ngetting emgloyment from W ellington; others were coked to different parts of the colony, and our agents were instructed to give them every assistance towards obtaining suitable employment. Several new arrivals simply turned round and went back to England, which, in my opinion, was better so, as they were totally unsuited for colonial life; having been brought up to clerical and other light employment, they had neither the physique nor the pluck to tackle something else. As to persons emigrating to New Zealand, it seems to the inspector, that some one should be at the other end, thoroughly up-to-date as to the sort of labour that is mostly required in New Zealand, also one who has had srreat and

varied experience in. colonial life, and who would be able tc judge by examination and personal appearance as to whether the proposed emigrants would be fit persons to come here. Many of the arrivals are totally unsuitable, but, of course, these do not all go through the Home New Zealand Government - Agents; therefore in many cases no check can be applied. v Employment generally throughout the year has been good, and little difficulty has been experienced in finding employment for those who applied during the winter months of 1904. A block of bush was given to the departemnt as a means of disposing of surplus labour, but it did not avail itself of it to any great extent, owing to its situation which made it extremely difficult to get at, thus entailing considerable cost of transport. If something similar has to be done during 1905 it would be advisable to have it where there are reasonable means of access. Taking the period from beginning to end work* has been fairly plentiful, and in the dairying season iiands were very scarce. The young colonial of to-day does not seem to like the idea of going up-country, preferring the attraction of city life.